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Why is it my customers ask me the same damn question...They ask me how my business has been affected by the economy.(as if I must be struggling to find enough tuning customers to keep food on the table. I tell them "The economy is Great"! Then I toss it back at them and say, "Do you think people would have been stupid enough to vote Obama back in office if the economy weren't doing so well!?"

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Americans are often amazingly spoiled and entitled. I lived in Mexico for 6 months and that gave me a whole new appreciation for how wealthy and privileged we are here in America. My brother spent time in India and Haiti after college and after seeing real poverty he was forever changed.

In general I perceive a general lack of professionalism in the piano technician industry. Lack of education, lack of business skills, lack of proper training, lack of investment in continuing education and quality tools,lack of tone regulating skills, lack of humility, and occasionally lack of proper hygiene and manners.

There is this idea that a piano tech is some sort of "free spirit" who can get away with dressing and acting however they wish because it demonstrates their individuality and artistic flair towards life. If it works, then great! But if you are not as busy or charging as much as you would like, its time to take a good hard look in the mirror.

My (completely unqualified, pseudo-psychology) theory is that complaints about the economy are often rooted to feelings of alienation and depression. The media magnifies it by focusing on so much negative news day in and day out.

The best way to fix the economy: eat better, exercise, get involved with your community, turn off the TV, take a walk, you can fill in the rest.

Americans are often amazingly spoiled and entitled. I lived in Mexico for 6 months and that gave me a whole new appreciation for how wealthy and privileged we are here in America. My brother spent time in India and Haiti after college and after seeing real poverty he was forever changed.

In general I perceive a general lack of professionalism in the piano technician industry. Lack of education, lack of business skills, lack of proper training, lack of investment in continuing education and quality tools,lack of tone regulating skills, lack of humility, and occasionally lack of proper hygiene and manners.

There is this idea that a piano tech is some sort of "free spirit" who can get away with dressing and acting however they wish because it demonstrates their individuality and artistic flair towards life. If it works, then great! But if you are not as busy or charging as much as you would like, its time to take a good hard look in the mirror.

My (completely unqualified, pseudo-psychology) theory is that complaints about the economy are often rooted to feelings of alienation and depression. The media magnifies it by focusing on so much negative news day in and day out.

The best way to fix the economy: eat better, exercise, get involved with your community, turn off the TV, take a walk, you can fill in the rest.

Bob, exactly!. My own economy is doing fine depsite WHOEVER is in office.

Wait until you see your health insurance premium come January. I already heard from my carrier, and it's not pretty.

I purposely kept a high deductible plan and forego some coverages (dental, eye, etc) to keep premiums down since I pay 100% of them. To me, that's what insurance should be; covering the big stuff. I can handle the cost of doctor visits, prescriptions, having a tooth filled, etc.

Anyway, the new law requires minimum coverages to be "eligible." Prepare for sticker shock and then we'll see how small individual self-employed people fare!

It will be interesting in January, Loren as everything sorts out. There is no way we will end up paying less money. That almost never happens, in my experience. I am happy there is insurance for pre-existing conditions...but so far, that seems to be the only positive change......but.......I suppose time will tell.

Do you think people would have been stupid enough to vote Obama back in office if the economy weren't doing so well!?"______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Do you think people would have been stupid enough to vote Obama back in office if the economy weren't doing so well!?"______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Look out for big bro Gary, this an audit waiting to happen.

Don't be silly. No one is paying attention to people's internet postings.

"Do you think people would have been stupid enough to vote Obama back in office if the economy weren't doing so well!?"

Not only would they......they did just that. In normal times, your argument would hold validity, but we no longer live in "normal" times. The American electorate, as a whole, are the least informed, least caring and unengaged in history. Ask the average person who Kim Kardashian or some other "reality slut" is and they can tell you the name of their newborn kid, but ask them about the four people who died in Benghazi, or about using the IRS to target your political foes, and they will look at you like you have two heads. It's great that you are reaping the fruits of your labor......enjoy it while you can my friend

In general I perceive a general lack of professionalism in the piano technician industry. Lack of education, lack of business skills, lack of proper training, lack of investment in continuing education and quality tools,lack of tone regulating skills, lack of humility, and occasionally lack of proper hygiene and manners.

There is this idea that a piano tech is some sort of "free spirit" who can get away with dressing and acting however they wish because it demonstrates their individuality and artistic flair towards life. If it works, then great! But if you are not as busy or charging as much as you would like, its time to take a good hard look in the mirror.

I completely agree. Anyone's reputation (in any service industry) will precede them by word of mouth coverage and will stick like a label after the persons name is mentioned. Whatever the economic situation is piano owners will be needing our services and the one that has shine and polish gets the first call. Manners and personal appearance make solid first impressions and care with your craft for the client, instead of trying to wiggle out of a repair or technical issue, will make your reputation shine and boost your business every time. I charge more than most tech's here but I spend more time technically and not bother the client with how things will cost more. Making repair recommendations on my receipt keeps my relationship with the client and proper repairs (done with care) down the road will build into a working relationship. Keep longer appointment times and your rewards will increase exponentially.

In general I perceive a general lack of professionalism in the piano technician industry. Lack of education, lack of business skills, lack of proper training, lack of investment in continuing education and quality tools,lack of tone regulating skills, lack of humility, and occasionally lack of proper hygiene and manners.

There is this idea that a piano tech is some sort of "free spirit" who can get away with dressing and acting however they wish because it demonstrates their individuality and artistic flair towards life. If it works, then great! But if you are not as busy or charging as much as you would like, its time to take a good hard look in the mirror.

I agree. I get a lot of phone calls because of other techs' attitudes and appearances. Its bad enough sometimes I feel like I should be thanking them for all the referrals! If you aren't getting return business, check your attitude/appearance. How people perceive us is 90% of the business.

When people ask me about the economy, I tell them that the cuts in education have forced parents to bring music education back into the home. Parents love that it makes them seem like great parents, older folks like the chance to reminisce, and the college-aged like the chance to vent about whichever political party they don't like.

I agree with the OP, the economy is great! I get a kick out of the technicians who act like they know what all the other technicians in the country are doing, charging, acting like. Making statements that seem to indicate that since they charge more than everyone else they must be perceived as better too (how do you know what they're charging?), or I wear a tie so my customers like me better. Ties are last-century for the most part. Having a clean professional image is important but so many other factors also play in.

A couple of things to think about.... Pianos go out out of tune and need repairs whether the economy is good or bad. Job security for us I guess. :-) Also, I would think that people with pianos are probably more likely to have a little more disposable income.

I started my business back in 2007 at the height of the "economic collapse." I have been CRAZY busy every since. If the economy was/is as bad as the media lets on, I don't know what I will do when it finally gets strong again. I can barely keep up now.

When my mentor started training me, I told him that I didn't want to take or hurt any of his business. His exact words were, "Ryan, there are enough neglected pianos here in the area to keep four tuners busy full time." I remember thinking at the time, yeah right. He wasn't kidding!!

I guess it depends where you are. Around here (southwest Ohio), a tuner wearing a tie would get some funny looks.

Being a girl, I don't have to worry about to tie or not to tie. But dressing professionally definitely pays off here in Indiana. I go for "business casual." There's no way I'm crawling under a piano in a skirt!

Being a girl, I don't have to worry about to tie or not to tie. But dressing professionally definitely pays off here in Indiana. I go for "business casual." There's no way I'm crawling under a piano in a skirt!

I guess it depends where you are. Around here (southwest Ohio), a tuner wearing a tie would get some funny looks.

Could be. I guess my point is that often it's the little things that make a big difference. My real issue is with the notion that ties are last century. I'm not a fan of professionals dressing down. I play a lot of weddings, and you'd be surprised at what some people consider proper attire for someone's wedding. I see jeans, shorts, t-shirts...

I agree with the OP, the economy is great! I get a kick out of the technicians who act like they know what all the other technicians in the country are doing, charging, acting like. Making statements that seem to indicate that since they charge more than everyone else they must be perceived as better too (how do you know what they're charging?), or I wear a tie so my customers like me better. Ties are last-century for the most part. Having a clean professional image is important but so many other factors also play in.

Jbyron,

Maybe I misinterpreted the OP - I sensed a fair level of sarcasm in his posts.

Through the Piano Technicians Guild I have had a chance to interact with technicians from all over the country on fairly regular basis. So my opinion is somewhat based on experience. It sounds like you disagree - no problem.

I agree that rates are not always an indication of quality. However, the market is a no-nonsense indicator of how well an individual's business strategy is paying off. If you are charging top dollar and the phone continues to ring throughout the year, you must be doing something right.

Take Rod, for example: If you want him to replace a soundboard for you you're going to be waiting at least a year. I guarantee you this is not because he is cheaper than his competitors!

In regards to the tie - maybe they are a bit old fashioned! I think being a piano technician is kind of an old fashioned occupation, so to me, it fits. I do get an occasional comment, but I tend to err on the side of looking like a professional businessman. This partly carries over from when I was in my 20's with 2 young kids trying to make it in a town with several other established technicians. I had to do everything I could to make a good impression, being such a young whooper-snapper!

LaRoy Edwards who ran Yamaha's Little Red Schoolhouse for many years encouraged us to consider wearing a tie. He said we'd make more money! "It's OK if you don't want to make more money. But if you WANT to make more money, you should wear a tie" he said. I figured with my situation I couldn't afford NOT to!

Of course Jerry Groot, RIP, despised ties after his got caught on a grand action he was working on, causing the action to go crashing onto the floor when he stood up!

Your last sentence is right on. Image is only part of the equation. That's why I mentioned continuing education.

Most techs are not all that interested in it - it's hard enough to get people to show up for a Piano Technicians Guild meeting. Far fewer will attend a conference. Attendance at the PTG annual conference has been running at around 600 out of a total membership of approximately 4000.

I agree with you, professionalism never goes out of style. Ties and professionalism are not mutually exclusive. Styles go out of style, proven by the fact that we are no longer wearing powdered wigs to work. I have no problem what-so-ever with people dressing how they want and don't mind seeing people in ties. In Southern California very few wear them and I live in a professional area where there is a ton of wealth and a ton of success. I only have a problem when people say they have the best formula for success and anyone else is pond-scum by comparison. It sounds like some people construct agenda driven posts at every turn. You'll never get everyone to be just the way you think they should be. Why even try? Especially if you feel that their inadequacies are bringing more work your way. I had my most lucrative year ever and it just so happened to be one where I dressed down slightly to what I felt was more appropriate for the work that I do most often. Granted, a concert tuning or wedding calls for dressing up but durable kakis and a dress shirt or even nice jeans, nice shoes and dress shirt is usually more appropriate for pulling actions into your lap, climbing under a piano and adjusting pedals, using glues and lubricants, etc. I find that customers respond favorably to a trim clean appearance and a friendly smile more than anything else.

I agree with the OP, the economy is great! I get a kick out of the technicians who act like they know what all the other technicians in the country are doing, charging, acting like. Making statements that seem to indicate that since they charge more than everyone else they must be perceived as better too (how do you know what they're charging?), or I wear a tie so my customers like me better. Ties are last-century for the most part. Having a clean professional image is important but so many other factors also play in.

Jbyron,

Maybe I misinterpreted the OP - I sensed a fair level of sarcasm in his posts.

Through the Piano Technicians Guild I have had a chance to interact with technicians from all over the country on fairly regular basis. So my opinion is somewhat based on experience. It sounds like you disagree - no problem.

I agree that rates are not always an indication of quality. However, the market is a no-nonsense indicator of how well an individual's business strategy is paying off. If you are charging top dollar and the phone continues to ring throughout the year, you must be doing something right.

Take Rod, for example: If you want him to replace a soundboard for you you're going to be waiting at least a year. I guarantee you this is not because he is cheaper than his competitors!

In regards to the tie - maybe they are a bit old fashioned! I think being a piano technician is kind of an old fashioned occupation, so to me, it fits. I do get an occasional comment, but I tend to err on the side of looking like a professional businessman. This partly carries over from when I was in my 20's with 2 young kids trying to make it in a town with several other established technicians. I had to do everything I could to make a good impression, being such a young whooper-snapper!

LaRoy Edwards who ran Yamaha's Little Red Schoolhouse for many years encouraged us to consider wearing a tie. He said we'd make more money! "It's OK if you don't want to make more money. But if you WANT to make more money, you should wear a tie" he said. I figured with my situation I couldn't afford NOT to!

Of course Jerry Groot, RIP, despised ties after his got caught on a grand action he was working on, causing the action to go crashing onto the floor when he stood up!

Your last sentence is right on. Image is only part of the equation. That's why I mentioned continuing education.

Most techs are not all that interested in it - it's hard enough to get people to show up for a Piano Technicians Guild meeting. Far fewer will attend a conference. Attendance at the PTG annual conference has been running at around 600 out of a total membership of approximately 4000.

My main gripe being, I didn't see how what you said had anything to do with the OP's statement. It just seemed like an agenda driven bunch of unrelated comments. Perhaps I misunderstood.

I interact with technicians from all over the country as well. Do you feel that they could/should be earning more money? Maybe you are sincerely trying to help them, I don't know.

We all know that you charge top dollar and your phone rings throughout the year. I think a lot of us are experiencing plenty of work, which to my understanding was the reason for the OP's post.

If the tie suits you and your area, that's fantastic. In my area, even though a wealthy one, ties are looked upon with great suspicion.

I have tremendous respect for LaRoy Edwards, he's a good guy to listen to about any aspect of the business IMO. I just don't agree with the tie and more income thing.

I miss Jerry Groot's, RIP, great humor.

I wouldn't gauge the desire for continued education of technicians solely by PTG function attendance. There are other ways technicians learn and improve, for instance last year I skipped the convention but spent a great deal of time honing my voicing skills with a mentor, and a lot of us read a great deal. One convention I attended was waste of time because I didn't hear anything new. Mostly my fault for picking the wrong classes. I usually learn a great deal there.

As I said, I took the OP's remarks as sarcasm. So I was making the point that a technicians perception of the economy may have more to do with their business strategy than with the actual economy. If you take the OPs post on face value, I suppose my comments didn't seem to be relevant. It wouldn't be the first time!

So maybe the OP can clarify - Sarcasm or sincerity?

I never intended to make anyone feel like pond scum (although pond scum may be happier than most humans are. They get all their energy from the sun )

I agree with you that PTG functions aren't the only or necessarily best way to progress. I was simply siting it as an example that I perceive that it is a small minority of technicians that actively work to upgrade skills. I like your idea of skipping the convention and working with a mentor on voicing skills. In regards to not hearing anything new at a convention - that may be true, but I find that I am so thick-headed that I have to hear the information a few different times sometimes from multiple sources before it really sinks in!

As I said, I took the OP's remarks as sarcasm. So I was making the point that a technicians perception of the economy may have more to do with their business strategy than with the actual economy. If you take the OPs post on face value, I suppose my comments didn't seem to be relevant. It wouldn't be the first time!

So maybe the OP can clarify - Sarcasm or sincerity?

I never intended to make anyone feel like pond scum (although pond scum may be happier than most humans are. They get all their energy from the sun )

I agree with you that PTG functions aren't the only or necessarily best way to progress. I was simply siting it as an example that I perceive that it is a small minority of technicians that actively work to upgrade skills. I like your idea of skipping the convention and working with a mentor on voicing skills. In regards to not hearing anything new at a convention - that may be true, but I find that I am so thick-headed that I have to hear the information a few different times sometimes from multiple sources before it really sinks in!